Improvement in funnels



H. F'. LAW/RENCE.

Funnels.

Patented Aug. 6,1872.

PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY F. LAWRENCE, 0F 4NEW` YORK, N. Y.

I'MPRovi-:MENT IN FuNNELs.

Speciiicat'ion forming part of Letters Patent No. 130,302, dated August 6, 1872.

SPECIFICATION.

To all whomn it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, HENRY F. LAWRENCE, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Funnels, of which the following is a specification:

My improvements relate to that class of funnels which are provided with a valve in the nozzle; and they consist in a removable perforated diaphragm, which serves both as a guide to the valve-rod and as a sieve 5 in an improved method of constructing the supporting-standard of the thumb-lever, whereby strength and economy of cost are secured.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical central section of my improved funnel. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the thumblever, standard, and adjacent parts.

My improved funnel may be of the usual or any convenient shape, as represented at A. B is the handle, and c the nozzle, within which is arranged a ball or other valve, d, which is suspended by the rod e from the thumb-lever F, which has its bearing in the standard G, and is provided with a pressure-spriu g, h, to maintain it in such a position that `the valve remains open for the free passage of the iiuids through the nozzle. When it is desired to check the flow it is effected by pressing upon the lever suciently to bvercolne the force of the spring and close the valve against its seat t'. The valve remains open the greater part of the time, and would be liable to become deranged and injured were it not that it is covered bythe extended portion c of the nozzle, which forms a sheath which incloses and protects it from external blows, and from any dirt to which it might be exposed when using, which, by adhering to the valve, might contaminate the liquids which are passed through the funnel. A diaphragm, J, perforated to allow the passage of the liquids and act as a strainer, has a'central sleeve, k, attached, which forms a guide for the valve-rod c. This diaphragm is removable for cleansing and for the substitution of others with coarser or finer meshes, as required. The air-escape pipe Z commences with an external perforation through the side of the nozzle, immediately above the valve-seat, and extends up the inner wall of the funnel to the top.

In my former patent for improved funnel the nozzle. was jacketed, and the outer tube perforated for the escape of the air through the intervening annular space which communicated with a side tube beginning at the base of the funnel. This arrangement was objectionable because of the liability of the small space between the two tubes to become filled up, when it could not be easily cleansed; it enlarged ,the nozzle too much to it smallnecked bottles, and was expensive to manufacture; aand it is the object of my present arrangement to obviate these objections by the insertion of the single continuous pipe, opening through the side of the nozzle by a single orifice, forming a simple and effectual vent at a triing cost.

Heretofore the bearing for the thumb-lever in this class of funnels has been a sheet-metal cap or segment, soldered to the top rim of the funnel. This, from the thinness of the metal, was liable to -be bent by a fall, renderin g the working part of the valve inoperative.

I obviate 'this objection by constructing a standard for the fulcrum of the thumb-lever of a single strip of metal of suitable thickness, so shaped as to form a perpendicular standard, a horizontal brace, and pivot-boxes for the axis ofthe lever, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2.

The upright portion is eitectually strengthened by the doubling back upon it of that part which forms the eyes, and by the horizontal brace, so as to resist any ordinary accident to which it is liable, while the brace forms a bearing for the spring h, which is securely riveted to the thumb-lever. The eye portion of the standard is slotted to admit the lever F, and the latter is provided with a shoulder, o, which, by striking the standard, acts as a stop to limit the amount of opening of the valve.

The funnel may have beads or other marks placed at suitable intervals to indicate the contents when the valve is kept closed, thus adapting it to be used in measuring, if desired.

The paramount object of my improvement is to attain the greatest degree of utility, combined with cheapness and simplicity.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. The removable perforated diaphragm J, in combination with the'funnel A, valve-rod e, valve d,and1ever F, as and for the purpose my name in the presence of two subscribing described. Witnesses.

2. The part G, bent to form the standard, HENRY F. LAWRENCE. the eyes for Jche lever-axis, and brace7 in com- .binationwththe funnel A,rod e, andavalve, d, Witnesses: substantially as set forth. J. FRASER,

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed CHARLES M. HIGGINS. 

